In addition to COVID, these guidelines also apply to other respiratory infections, including flu and RSV, Garcia Carreno said.
Norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus, not a respiratory virus like other illnesses we see this time of year, Garcia Carreno explained.
If somebody is sick with norovirus at home, Garcia Carreno advises sterilizing or decontaminating the restroom that person used.
“Also, for the majority, of these pneumonias, you usually are not contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics.
So once you have received 24 hours of effective or appropriate antibiotics … the contagiousness will decrease,” she said.
People are spreading infectious diseases like COVID, flu, RSV, pneumonia, and more as they celebrate the holidays. However, for what duration are you contagious?
Dr. According to Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center Plano, RSV, COVID, and flu cases are already on the rise in her region, she told CBS News.
Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent illness, such as getting vaccinated, washing our hands, and avoiding social situations.
But if you do get sick, here are some tips to help others stay safe this holiday season.
For what duration is COVID contagious?
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals infected with COVID-19 can spread the virus up to eight to ten days after symptoms start.
Its website states that “the majority of transmission appears to occur during the early periods of infection, particularly in the 1 to 2 days before symptoms start and within the first few days of symptom onset.”.
The virus can also be spread by asymptomatic individuals.
So how can we determine when it’s safe to be around other people? You don’t have to wait for a negative test result. The CDC has instead provided streamlined guidelines for when to terminate isolation following viral infection: improved symptoms and a 24-hour fever-free period.
“The patient should be somewhat recovered after they have had no fever for 24 hours without taking any medications that lower fevers, such as ibuprofen. Garcia Carreno added, “but your respiratory symptoms must also be getting better.”.
After this time, you can begin to go out, but it’s still a good idea to take safety precautions for other people.
For instance, wear a mask if you can and attempt to socially distance yourself from other people. That is typically advised for a further five days,” she stated.
According to Garcia Carreno, these recommendations are applicable not only to COVID but also to other respiratory infections like the flu and RSV.
For what duration is the flu contagious?
The CDC states that influenza viruses can be found in the majority of infected individuals as early as one day before symptoms appear and as late as five to seven days after illness.
“The first three days of a flu illness are the most contagious. Some people may be contagious for longer periods of time, such as young children and those with compromised immune systems, according to the agency’s website.
Following a 24-hour period without fever and with improved symptoms, you can resume your normal activities in accordance with the CDC’s updated guidelines.
Additionally, according to Garcia Carreno, taking drugs like Tamiflu doesn’t alter these timelines.
“Antiviral medication use shouldn’t contribute to the illness’s prolonged spread,” she stated.
According to the CDC’s updated recommendations, people should continue to monitor fever and symptoms even though antiviral drugs can help with them.
How long can someone get stomach flu?
Those who have stomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritis or norovirus, will recover in one to three days, but they can continue to infect others for days after that.
“You can still spread norovirus for 2 weeks or more after you feel better,” according to the CDC website.
Garcia Carreno clarified that unlike other illnesses that occur during this season, norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus rather than a respiratory one.
“It’s also very contagious, but it spreads more through vomiting and diarrhea, so it’s transmission through fecal (and) oral,” she stated. “Hand washing is crucial, and it’s worth noting that bleach products are typically required to inactivate norovirus. “..”.
Garcia Carreno suggests sterilizing or decontaminating the restroom used by the person who has norovirus at home.
In addition to washing your hands to prevent illness, she advised avoiding sharing cups and utensils with other people to prevent respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses.
For what duration is RSV contagious?
According to the CDC, people infected with RSV are typically contagious for three to eight days. Additionally, a day or two before they exhibit symptoms, they might become contagious.
“Even after they stop exhibiting symptoms, some infants and people with compromised immune systems can continue to spread the virus for 4 weeks or longer,” the agency states.
The same CDC recommendations for COVID and flu also apply to RSV: after a person has improved symptoms and been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, they can leave isolation.
How long can someone contract pneumonia?
According to Garcia Carreno, bacterial pneumonia generally follows the same rule as other respiratory viruses, which states that a person should become less contagious after a 24-hour period without fever and a decrease in symptoms.
Additionally, after taking antibiotics for 24 hours, you are typically not contagious for the majority of these pneumonias. Dote yourself with antibiotics that are appropriate or effective for a full day. There will be less contagiousness,” she stated.
How long does it take to spread the common cold?
The Cleveland Clinic states that you are most contagious during the first three days, which is when symptoms are at their worst.
After that period, however, you can still spread the illness.
“You can spread a cold a day or two before you have symptoms, and you can be contagious for up to two weeks,” the clinic’s website states.
“The same rules will apply to rhinovirus (as other respiratory viruses),” Garcia Carreno stated, “even though its symptoms are milder, rhinovirus is “one of the most contagious viruses.” Rhinovirus is the classic common cold virus.
